The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has engaged Christie’s for future sales of Andy Warhol’s work from its collection. Recognizing that the arts community needs its support now more than ever, the foundation seeks to significantly increase its endowment in order to ensure and expand its long-term support of the visual arts.
Towards this goal, Christie’s will conduct phased sales over a period of years using multiple platforms, including single-artist live auctions, private sales and continuing online auctions, bringing a wide range of Warhol’s art †much of which has never before been seen by the public at large †to existing as well as new collectors worldwide. At the same time, the foundation also plans to mark its 25th anniversary by making additional gifts of significant works to museums, continuing its long history of donating Warhol’s art.
Paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and printed graphic material by Andy Warhol will be offered first at a series of single-artist live auctions on November 12. Online auctions will begin in February 2013, with private sales conducted on an ongoing basis. Sales will thus be phased over a multiyear period in wide distribution.
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts was created at the late artist’s direction for the purpose of advancing the visual arts. Since its establishment in 1987, the foundation has pursued that mission by making nearly $250 million in grants to hundreds of museums and nonprofit arts organizations nationwide; through grants made to individual artists and arts writers through its sister foundation Creative Capital; and through the Andy Warhol Museum, which it founded and endowed with a permanent collection of nearly 4,000 iconic artworks as well as with archival materials.
As part of its service to the foundation, Christie’s will launch a special promotional website (a microsite of Christies.com) in October. The site will offer the public a central, highly visual resource for sale-related information throughout the years of the partnership. In February, when online sales begin, Christie’s also plans to launch a web-based series of flash auctions, which will include a range of approachable price points.
For information, 212-636-2000 or www.Christies.com .
